Wanted in numerous cases, the 35-year-old attempted suicide fearing his ‘history of crime’ would come out

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A 35-year-old chain-snatcher, arrested by the Nerul police on Saturday, tried to commit suicide on Monday inside the police station premises by trying to slit his throat with a windowpane.

Identified as Najir Ahmed Shaikh, a resident of Kharghar, the accused is undergoing treatment at JJ hospital.

Shaikh and his accomplice Mukhtar Khan (37) were arrested on Saturday afternoon in Nerul during a nakabandi. They were wanted in several chain-snatching cases in Navi Mumbai.

Toilet taleThe incident took place on Monday around 2.30 pm.

“Shaikh was sent to police custody till October 13. An officer took him to the detection room for interrogation. He gave the excuse of wanting to go to the toilet; a constable was sent with him,” said Adikrao Pol, Senior Inspector.

Usually, in such cases, the police don’t allow the accused to close the door. But Shaikh went in and even locked it. “When he didn’t come out after a few minutes, the constable sensed something was amiss and started knocking.

On getting no response, he broke open the door and found Shaikh with his throat slit. He was taken to a civic hospital in Vashi,” added Pol.

Shaikh underwent treatment there, where the doctor claimed his injuries were minor. “The doctor discharged Shaikh, saying he didn’t need to be admitted. We then took him to JJ hospital and admitted him for a day to ensure he was stitched up properly and didn’t harm himself again,” said Pol. Earlier booked under sections 392 (robbery) and 34 (intention) of the Indian Penal Code, he has now also been charged with attempt to commit suicide.

The reasonThe Nerul police during investigation found that Shaikh used to work in a furniture shop. He had been wanted in many cases registered in Kharghar, Kamothe, Kalamboli and Panvel.

“Shaikh on his bike was identified in footage of different CCTVs gathered by the Navi Mumbai police. But he always managed to give the slip. On Saturday, we managed to nab him and also seized his bike. Getting caught for the first time, he got scared that his entire history of crime will come out and he will go behind bars for a long time. Hence, he tried to kill himself,” said Pol, adding that further probe is on.